Shaheen Afridi makes red-ball comeback with Test recall in sight

ISLAMABAD: Shaheen Shah Afridi is ready to return to Pakistan’s domestic red-ball cricket after a lengthy absence, with the left-arm pacer set to represent Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in the President’s Trophy Grade-I from Saturday.

The comeback could prove significant for the 26-year-old, who has recently been left out of Pakistan’s squads for the West Indies and England Test assignments. A strong domestic campaign would give Shaheen a valuable opportunity to rebuild his case for a return to the national Test side.

Shaheen’s journey to international cricket began through the domestic system. His performances for KRL and Pakistan Under-19s helped earn him a place in the senior side, where he eventually became one of Pakistan’s leading fast bowlers.

But after making his international debut in 2018, his involvement in domestic first-class cricket became increasingly limited.

His last confirmed domestic first-class appearance came during the 2019-20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, when he played for Northern against Southern Punjab in Sialkot on October 28, 2019.

Now, almost seven years later, Shaheen is preparing to return to the four-day format.

A chance to answer the critics

Shaheen has taken 126 wickets in 34 Tests, but questions have increasingly been raised about his pace and effectiveness in the longer format. His absence from Pakistan’s recent Test plans came as selectors reshaped the red-ball squad.

The fast bowler, however, has already provided evidence that his wicket-taking instincts remain intact.

Last month, Shaheen led Pakistan Gold to the National Champions Cup title, finishing the four-team competition as its leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets. His performance included a memorable hat-trick in the final.

That form could provide confidence as he returns to first-class cricket.

The President’s Trophy will also give him the chance to bowl longer spells, manage his workload and demonstrate that he can still make an impact across extended periods — precisely the areas selectors will be watching.

Star-studded domestic competition

The PCB’s 2026-27 domestic red-ball season begins with the President’s Trophy Grade-I, scheduled from September 12 to October 28.

The eight-team departmental competition will feature 28 four-day matches in a single-league round-robin stage. Each team will play seven matches, with the top two progressing to a five-day final.

KRL begin their campaign against Ghani Glass at Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar on Saturday.

Shaheen will not be the only Pakistan international in action.

Shadab Khan will represent Ghani Glass, while Faheem Ashraf joins Shaheen at KRL. Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Saim Ayub will play for Kingsmen Academy, Imam-ul-Haq will lead OGDCL, Haris Rauf will represent Pakistan Television and Mohammad Rizwan will turn out for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited.

Rizwan has already gained some recent domestic red-ball exposure, including the previous President’s Trophy and Quaid-e-Azam Trophy seasons. Saud also played six matches in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, while Saim appeared in two.

Haris, meanwhile, returned to first-class cricket last season after limited involvement in the format.

More than just a comeback

The President’s Trophy arrives at an important moment for Shaheen and Pakistan’s Test cricket.

The national side has been searching for the right balance in its red-ball combination, while Shaheen has faced questions over his pace, workload and consistency.

A productive spell of domestic cricket could therefore serve two purposes: help the pacer regain rhythm and fitness while giving national selectors a close look at his progress.

For Shaheen, Saturday’s match is more than the start of another domestic tournament. It could be the first step towards reclaiming his place in Pakistan’s Test plans.